106-047 Art/Pornography/Blasphemy/Propaganda

Usually 25 points of first year English, see Prerequisites or 50 points of first year arts including at least 25 points from a specified list of subject areas, see Prerequisites.

This subject provides an introduction to the history and politics of censorship of the arts in the West since the 1890s. It examines the contested boundaries between art and its presumed 'others' - pornography, blasphemy and propaganda - by focusing on certain celebrated cases of censorship of literary texts, visual art, film and popular music. Students completing the subject should gain an understanding of the processes by which censorship operates; its role in defining 'artistic merit'; and some of the ways in which the concept of 'aesthetic value' has been employed to defend cultural artefacts against charges of obscenity, blasphemy and/or propaganda over the past century.

A classpaper presentation 10%, an essay of 1500 words 40% (due mid-semester) and a second essay of 2500 words 50% (due at the end of semester). A hurdle requirement of class participation and attendance at a minimum of nine tutorials required.

A subject reader will be available. Any edition of the following texts:

• B E Ellis, American Psycho.
• M Kundera, Unbearable Lightness of Being.
• D H Lawrence, Lady Chatterley's Lover.
• P Reage, Story of O (Part 1).
• S Rushdie, Satanic Verses.
• A Solzhenitsyn, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.
• O Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• Films, The Last Temptation of Christ, Blue Velvet.
• Music Album: The 2 Live Crew, Nasty As They Wanna Be.